U.S. imports and exports of brass mill products increased in May compared with the corresponding 2016 period, reports the Copper and Brass Fabricators Council, Washington. May imports totaled 46.4 million pounds, an increase of 8.5 percent, while exports grew 26 percent to 25.7 million pounds.

For the year to date, brass mill imports totaled 201.6 million pounds, an increase of 6 percent. Year-to-date exports totaled 111.1 million pounds, an increase of 11.2 percent.

Mexico was the leading destination for U.S. exports of brass mill products in May at 9.3 million pounds, followed by Canada at 6.9 million pounds, Saudi Arabia at 2.0 million pounds, China at 1.6 million pounds and South Korea at 911,452 pounds.

Imports from Germany totaled 11.3 million pounds, followed by Mexico at 4.8 million pounds, Vietnam at 4.5 million pounds, Canada at 4.0 million pounds and South Korea at 4.0 million pounds.

Imports of all sheet, strip, plate and foil products totaled 15.9 million pounds, while exports of those products totaled 10.0 million pounds. Imports of all pipe and tube products totaled 16.9 million pounds, while pipe and tube exports totaled 5.4 million pounds. Imports of all profiles, rods and bars totaled 10.0 million pounds, while exports totaled 8.1 million pounds.